Patch landscape size effects on functional and phylogenetic diversity thresholds for Atlantic Forest small mammals

Abstract

Despite conservation efforts, the biodiversity loss is happening rapidly at regional and global scales, especially in biodiversity hotspots, like the Atlantic Forest. These loses have been attributed to increasing of disturbances, such as species overexploitation, fragmentation, destruction of habitats, invasion by alien species and the removal of large mammals. Small mammals can often be overlooked but play an important role in forest dynamics and they are good indicators of both local and landscape changes. Several conceptual models have suggested that the fragmentation and habitat loss will trigger lack habitat specialist and increase habitat generalist species of non-volant small mammals. Research suggests indicates that changes in the functional and phylogenetic diversity in different organisms are of highest importance for better understanding of: (a) the density and richness, (b) community compositions, and (c) the functions performed by the species in response fragmentation. Our goal for this study is to determine if the functional and phylogenetic diversity of small mammals can be explained by patch landscape size and if this relationship is linear or have critical thresholds. Thus, permitting to indicate priority areas for conservation based on the amount of ecological functions that the forest remnants still retain. (AU)